the revolution : being the complete libretto of the Broadway musical, with a true account of its creation, and concise remarks on hip-hop, the power of stories, and the new America
287 pages
English language
Published Aug. 7, 2016 by Grand Central Publishing, Melcher Media.
Offers a behind-the-scenes view of Hamilton the musical, detailing the many dramatic episodes in Alexander Hamilton's life.
An emotional and enlightening read for anyone who enjoyed the musical.
Superb would be a vast understatement.
I love this book so much. It could've only been the libretto and I would've been sold, but it's so much more.
First, the book contains so much background information about the musical, from its inception up to its opening night on Broadway. This includes notes on the actual historical figures and events behind Hamilton, as well as how the musical itself came to be.
Second, the notes/asides from Lin-Manuel Miranda on his lyrics are wonderful (and in some cases, hilarious).
Third, we get to hear from so many people involved in the musical, from the producers and actors to technicians, and from Ron Chernow (whose biography of Alexander Hamilton inspired Miranda to write the musical) to President Obama.
Fourth, the book really illustrates how groundbreaking Hamilton is in bringing hip-hop to Broadway and making history more accessible to so many people. (One of my favorite chapters to show …
I love this book so much. It could've only been the libretto and I would've been sold, but it's so much more.
First, the book contains so much background information about the musical, from its inception up to its opening night on Broadway. This includes notes on the actual historical figures and events behind Hamilton, as well as how the musical itself came to be.
Second, the notes/asides from Lin-Manuel Miranda on his lyrics are wonderful (and in some cases, hilarious).
Third, we get to hear from so many people involved in the musical, from the producers and actors to technicians, and from Ron Chernow (whose biography of Alexander Hamilton inspired Miranda to write the musical) to President Obama.
Fourth, the book really illustrates how groundbreaking Hamilton is in bringing hip-hop to Broadway and making history more accessible to so many people. (One of my favorite chapters to show this is that high school kids can see the show through a special program, and teachers incorporate it into their curriculum. For many, it acts as a bridge between history and the modern day. Also, the kids apparently lose their minds during the cabinet battles.)
Fifth, the photos from the show! I haven't been able to see it yet, so I love seeing these snapshots from the production, both behind the scenes and on stage.
It's astonishing how one musical has touched so many people. For some people of color, it's an opportunity to see the United States's Founding Fathers with skin tones other than white—as Daveed Diggs (who played the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson) says, it makes him wonder how his life would have been different if he had seen the play as a teenager. Some can relate to working nonstop to create something that will outlive them, to leave a legacy. Others hear the hip-hop and realize this is a totally new sort of musical, and want to be on board. Throughout is a message that immigrants—historical and present—help shape the country into something new, a grand experiment. Truly, there's something for everyone here.
I love everything about this this. The souls of the musical and Lin Manuel Miranda comes through and it is a breathtakingly beautiful edition.
I probably would have never even heard of Hamilton if not for the rabid fangirls on Twitter.
I tried to listen to the soundtrack on Spotify once just to see what the excitement was about. It was ok but I wasn't overwhelmed. I never made it all the way through. I did like the official website though that had historical notes along with the lyrics.When the book came out I decided to try again. I was interested in hearing the story of how the idea came about and how that idea was transformed into a hit musical.
The book covers the history of the show. It starts from an idea that Lin-Manuel Miranda had while reading a biography of Alexander Hamilton on vacation during a time when there was a lot of discussion in the theater world about the possibilities of using hip hop in musicals. It covers the next …
I probably would have never even heard of Hamilton if not for the rabid fangirls on Twitter.
I tried to listen to the soundtrack on Spotify once just to see what the excitement was about. It was ok but I wasn't overwhelmed. I never made it all the way through. I did like the official website though that had historical notes along with the lyrics.When the book came out I decided to try again. I was interested in hearing the story of how the idea came about and how that idea was transformed into a hit musical.
The book covers the history of the show. It starts from an idea that Lin-Manuel Miranda had while reading a biography of Alexander Hamilton on vacation during a time when there was a lot of discussion in the theater world about the possibilities of using hip hop in musicals. It covers the next six years of writing songs and trying them out in front of different audiences and workshopping the show. Interspersed are the songs with the stories of their inspiration and the historical background to each one.
The people involved in the show are profiled. It isn't just the actors. Choreography, directing, set design, and costumes are discussed.
via GIPHYI listened to each song on Spotify as I came to it in the book. I finally made it the whole way through the show.Am I a lyric quoting fan girl now? I'm not nearly as obsessed as the people who introduced me to this show on Twitter but the songs do get stuck in your head.* I appreciate it a whole lot more now that I know more about the creation and musical influences and history. If you aren't sure what all the fuss is about, I'd recommend reading this book to get you up to speed.
*Ok, full disclosure, since I wrote this post:
Pretty awesome. In particular, the photography is terrific: will give a sense of the show and cast for those who haven't seen it yet, and a refreshing reminder for those of us lucky enough to have seen it. The essays are also fun and informative, though sometimes a little trite.
